Heat plus humidity matters
Evaporative cooling becomes less efficient as humidity rises.
Watch recovery
A horse that remains very hot, weak, disoriented or distressed after stopping work needs urgent attention.
Cool aggressively when needed
Continuous cool water with scraping only when it helps ongoing application is often more effective than delaying cooling.
Provide water
Healthy horses generally benefit from access to water; follow veterinary advice for specific medical situations.
Acclimatize gradually
Fitness and heat acclimation reduce risk but never eliminate it.